The Intentional Community of Soaring Spirits
One of the best medicines for widowed people is other widowed people.
In Soaring Spirits we have access to Regional Social Groups! These groups exist across the country and Internationally in Bermuda, Dublin, and York/North Yorkshire.
Every group looks, and functions, in their own unique way. We have park meetings, restaurant meetings, and meet-ups in coffee shops. Some groups meet at paint parties, the movies, or organize a camping trip or an Alaskan cruise. Some groups will be organizing a trip to attend a cool event called Camp Widow!
It is a place where saying our person’s name is normal, sharing photos and honoring milestones are welcome. Like us, the tone and flavor of each group can vary, but there is one thing we have in common.
We lost our life-partner: our person.
Maybe we were married for many years. Perhaps we just found each other and lost our person suddenly. Sometimes we were partnered without a formal marriage. Whatever our circumstances, the loss of our person left us reeling. Life is not the same for us and our family or friends may be wishing we would just get over it. Our widowed friends know that it is not that simple. There is no time clock for getting better. We heal in increments, our way, and in our own time.
There are many reasons for attending a widow group and the reasons can vary over time. Some attend regularly with the new widower or widow in mind. The memory of the early days are still with us and we can provide a listening ear to someone whose life turned up-side-down without a moment’s notice. Someone swimming in an ocean of grief that is so new, so overwhelming, that it feels like life may never be the same again. We are there to offer hope that it gets better with time.
Many of us attend because we have come to love and care about this chosen family. For some, it is paying it forward to others what came to us in our time of need.
We also attend for ourselves.
Grief can be a wily foe! Just when we think we are feeling “normal” again, an anniversary or milestone puts us in the pit of wishing our person was here to experience the joy or sorrow with us. We go to the group to speak the name of our person to those who understand and aren’t going to lecture us or ask us why we don’t “move on” for good.
Personally, I love that I never need to leave Dan behind. I don’t know how I could do otherwise. And, although his physical body is not present anymore, the love we shared continues to exist and grow in mysterious ways.
If you’re reading this and you belong to a Regional Group, take a minute to thank your widowed peeps for continuing to show up for each other and any new widowed folk who have not yet arrived. Having dinner together once or twice a month may feel like a small thing, but it is huge for those who are still adjusting to the loss of their person.
If you are new to the widowed experience and wish to find a Regional Social Group, read on for details about finding a group that is good medicine for you!
Long live love!
TO FIND A REGIONAL SOCIAL GROUP IN YOUR AREA, FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
- Visit: Soaring Spirits Widowed Village
- In the top right-hand corner select: Join for Free
- Be prepared with proof of widowed status (Cover of a memorial booklet, death certificate, or newspaper/other notice). By uploading proof we keep our space safe for all members.
- Click on Regional Social Groups and you will find a list by state.
- Find the one closest to you and follow the instructions to join, or find out more information.
- BONUS! Once you are a member (for free) of Widowed Village, you have access to many online resources in addition to Regional Social Groups. There is a New Widowed Meeting online and a wealth of resources to utilize at your convenience (available 24/7 online, even when you wake in the night and cannot go back to sleep! So many good talks to explore!)
